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Reform Progress
Career Development Program Influences Positive Change in Adjudicated Youth
- Feb 6, 2012, Louisiana Models for Change
- Northshore Technical Community College in Greensburg, La., started a career development program in the fall of 2011 for adjudicated youth, youth found by a judge to have committed a violation of…
- New Report Examines School-to-Prison Pipeline in Chicago and Recommends Alternatives
- Jan 31, 2012, Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – Because public schools in Chicago too often rely on police arrests to resolve discipline problems, the schools have become the gateway for thousands of youth to enter the juvenile and…
- Profile for Change: Dr. Mick Moore
- Jan 27, 2012, Washington Models for Change
- Dr. Mick Moore is a powerful voice for reform. He bridges the education and juvenile justice systems, leading interagency changes from the education side. As Assistant to the Superintendent for…
- Landmark Study Offers Glimpse at Previously Ignored Youth Population
- Jan 27, 2012, Washington State Models for Change
- Landmark Study Offers Glimpse at Previously Ignored Youth Population
Youth with Both Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice History Studied
A study out of King County is the first of its kind in…
- Latino Youth “Virtually Invisible” in the Illinois Juvenile Justice System Report Calls for Collecting Accurate Information
- Dec 16, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO -- Latino youth comprise one of the fastest growing segments of Illinois’ population, but accurate statistical information about Latino youth in the state’s juvenile justice…
- Illinois Report Recommends Extensive Changes to Reverse Juvenile Recidivism Trend
- Dec 16, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – While noting progress has been made on several reforms within the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), an Illinois state commission has issued a road map of additional…
- West Valley Truancy Board a Model Program
- Dec 8, 2011, Jody Lawrence-Turner
- Bored with his West Valley High School classes, Harrison Calligan thought skipping school with friends might be more challenging.
The teen figured out how to block the school’s numbers from…
- Joshua Dohan: A Constant and Driving Force for Indigent Youth
- Dec 6, 2011
- Joshua Dohan, Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network Champion for Change
Director, Youth Advocacy Department– Committee for Public Counsel Services
Colleagues describe Joshua Dohan as…
- Catherine Foley Geib: No Drama, Big Results
- Dec 6, 2011
- Catherine Foley Geib, Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network Champion for Change
Manager of Clinical & Educational Services Court Support Services Division, Connecticut Judicial…
- Mark Masterson: Team Justice is On the Job
- Dec 6, 2011
- Mark Masterson, Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Action Network Champion for Change
Director, Sedgwick County Department of Corrections
Mark Masterson knows that disproportionate…
- Carl McCurley: A Passion for Analyzing and Improving Outcomes
- Dec 6, 2011
- Carl McCurley, Washington Champion for Change
Director, Administrative Office of the Courts/Washington State Center for Court Research
Outcome measures, data sources and data gaps aren’t…
- Dane R. Bolin: Committed to Reform and Innovation
- Dec 6, 2011
- Passionate, committed, humble, progressive, visionary: That’s how his colleagues describe Dane Bolin.
Dane R. Bolin,
Louisiana Champion for Change
Director, Calcasieu Parish…
- Toni Irving: A Fierce Impatience for Change
- Dec 6, 2011
- Toni Irving, Illinois Champion for Change
Deputy Chief of Staff, State of Illinois, Office of the Governor
Toni Irving combines a strong intellectual grasp of juvenile justice issues with a…
- Robert L. Listenbee: Juvenile Defenders Must Become the Change
- Dec 6, 2011
- Robert L. Listenbee, Pennsylvania Champion for Change
Chief of the Juvenile Unit, Defender Association of Philadelphia
One of Robert Listenbee’s favorite quotations is from Mahatma…
- 2011 Champions for Change
- Dec 6, 2011, Models for Change
- Champions for Change are individuals working with Models for Change in their states who have positively affected the lives of justice-involved youth, their families, and communities in ways that…
- Sixth Annual National Working Conference
- Dec 5, 2011
- The 6th Annual Models for Change National Working Conference is in full swing! Visit www.modelsforchange.net/2011Conference for resources, articles, and useful information.
If you are active on…
- Collaboration for Reform
- Dec 1, 2011, Tracy Velázquez, Justice Policy Institute
- As the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative began to get underway in four core states, participants in the Initiative and Foundation leadership recognized a significant need: to…
- Watchdog Reports Some Progress in Reform of Illinois Juvenile Prison System and Identifies Additional Steps Needed
- Nov 28, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- In a year-end assessment of Illinois’ juvenile prison system, the state’s top independent prison watchdog reported the state has made some progress in making reforms inside the prisons…
- Champion for Change Appointed to Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice
- Oct 31, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- WASHINGTON, DC -- John B. “Ben” Roe, an Illinois prosecutor and juvenile justice reform advocate, has been appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ), which…
- Chicago Public Radio Makes the Connection Between Mental Illness and Juvenile Justice
- Oct 28, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO -- "Out of the Shadows" is a fitting title for Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ-FM's series of news stories and discussion programs exploring "the fractures in mental health care for…
- Juvenile Law Center Launches Models for Change Podcast Series
- Oct 25, 2011, Autumn Dickman and Megan Bruce, Juvenile Law Center
- Yowei Shaw is an independent audio producer, youth media educator, and journalist based in Philadelphia. She produces a podcast for Juvenile Law Center called Pursuing Justice and has contributed…
- Dropout Re-engagement Legislation Supports Statewide Replication of Washington Models for Change Project
- Oct 21, 2011, Washington State Models for Change
- A Washington Models for Change partner has created a program for dropout reengagement that has been adopted as a model for statewide implementation. PathNet: A Networked Reengagement System, is a…
- Profile for Change: Patty Potter
- Sep 27, 2011, Pennsylvania Models for Change
- Since 2007, Patty Potter has performed the role of Mental Health Coordinator (MHC) in Erie County, one of the three Pennsylvania model counties selected to participate in the Models for Change Mental…
- Evidence Based Practice and Cultural Competency
- Sep 15, 2011, Zerline Hughes, Justice Policy Institute
- As the juvenile justice field nationwide increasingly adopts the use of evidence-based practices, local practitioners are grappling with whether these programs are culturally appropriate for their…
- King County’s Academic Awareness Awards Ceremony Recognizes Remarkable Turnarounds in Student Performance
- Aug 23, 2011, Washington State Models for Change
- The remarkable transformations of select King County students, from chronic truancy and failing grades to regular attendance and high achievement, were recognized at this year’s Academic…
- Watchdog Monitors Transition of Illinois Juvenile Prisons from Punitive to Rehabilitative
- Aug 19, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Unless you work for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice or you’ve been ordered to serve time as a juvenile, chances are you’ve never set foot inside any of the…
- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Signs Legislation Requiring Consideration of Community Treatment Before Incarceration in All Juvenile Cases
- Aug 16, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL – Before sentencing a youth to time in a state prison, juvenile court judges in Illinois will soon be required to review several factors, including the youth’s mental…
- Profile for Change: Mark D. Hassakis
- Jul 19, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- Mark D. Hassakis, attorney from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and past president of the Illinois State Bar Association.
CHICAGO -- When elected a year ago as President of the Illinois State Bar…
- Calcasieu Children and Youth Planning Board and Louisiana Models for Change launch innovative MARC center
- Jul 7, 2011, Louisiana Models for Change
- Representatives from various juvenile justice agencies and statewide organizations were on hand in Lake Charles today as the ribbon was cut on the brand new Calcasieu Parish Multi-Agency Resource…
- MacArthur Foundation director helps to unveil LSUHSC Institute for Public Health and Justice
- Jul 7, 2011, Louisiana Models for Change
- Juvenile justice reform stakeholders from across the nation gathered at a recent John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation-sponsored meeting to hear the first public announcement regarding the…
- Profile for Change: Judge Arthur Grim
- Jun 17, 2011, Pennsylvania Models for Change
- For more than 35 years, Judge Arthur Grim of Berks County Pennsylvania has been working hard to help kids find the path to successful adulthood. In 1975, Grim was a young graduate of Duquesne…
- Redeploy Illinois Saving Millions and Changing Lives
- Jun 3, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO – By helping counties offer comprehensive services to delinquent youth, the state of Illinois was able to save more than $9 million in 2010 by diverting 184 juveniles away from…
- Awards Presented to Chicago News Media For Coverage of Juvenile Justice System
- Jun 3, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- CHICAGO -- A Chicago radio station and magazine have received awards for news media excellence in recognition of their in-depth reporting about the Illinois juvenile justice system.
The Chicago…
- Funding, Implementing Evidence-Based Practices
- Jun 2, 2011, Zerline Hughes, Justice Policy Institute
- Now more than ever, cash-strapped states are looking into ways to shave expenses. Nationally, there are 81,000 youth in juvenile facilities; 70 percent of these youth are held in state-funded,…
- Illinois Legislature Approves Bill Encouraging Local Treatment for Juveniles When in Best Interest of the Youth and Their Communities
- May 25, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois General Assembly has approved legislation directing juvenile court judges to consider whether treatment in a youth's community would be a better option than sentencing…
- Profile for Change: Arthur D. Bishop
- May 18, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- Arthur D. Bishop Director, Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
For more than 35 years, social service has been a part of Arthur D. Bishop’s daily life.
Bishop, the Director of the…
- Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball Addresses Joint Session of the Louisiana Legislature
- May 16, 2011, Louisiana Models for Change
- Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball addressed the legislative joint session of the House and Senate on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. During her remarks, Kimball…
- All-Sites Meeting Highlights Successes, Ramps Up Energy for Next Phase of Work
- May 9, 2011, Washington State Models for Change
- Twice yearly, the Center for Children & Youth Justice (CCYJ) hosts a Washington Models for Change (WA-MfC) All-Sites meeting, an all-day event wherein participants can share successes and ideas,…
- Peer Jury Reduces Flow of Teens from School to Juvenile Justice System
- Apr 18, 2011, MacArthur Foundation
- A peer jury at Manual High School in Peoria, Illinois, has helped to dramatically reduce the number of teens entering the juvenile justice system from school. It is one of a number of projects…
- Illinois State Bar Association Provides New Guide to Help Communities Reduce Juvenile Delinquency
- Apr 5, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is encouraging more citizens to get involved in juvenile justice reform in their communities and is offering a free booklet…
- Louisiana Moves Full Steam Ahead in Coordinating Aid to At-Risk Youth
- Mar 30, 2011, Louisiana Models for Change
- Four state agencies in Louisiana are collaborating to improve aid for children with emotional and mental needs, with the goal of keeping more youth with behavior problems in their homes, as well as…
- New “Juvenile Justice 101” Program Provides Assistance to Washington Families
- Mar 8, 2011, Washington State Models for Change
- It’s a call that is frightening for any parent to receive: a probation screener is on the line, informing a mother or father that a child is in police detention.
But now in Washington…
- Racing to Keep Children Out of Prison
- Feb 14, 2011, Louisiana Models for Change
- Sibil Fox Richardson ran her first marathon in New Orleans on Sunday, February 13. However, Richardson had a far more important message to deliver during her run: As the world leader in…
- Dually Involved Youth Require a Coordinated Effort
- Jan 25, 2011, Keith Wallington, Justice Policy Institute
- Children that come into contact with both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems are classified in one of three ways depending on the jurisdiction, according to author John A. Tuell. These…
- West Valley Community Truancy Board is Honored
- Jan 14, 2011, Washington State Models for Change
- In December 2010, the West Valley Community Truancy Board received the Community Award from the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. The received the honor for…
- Pre-adjudication Diversion Efforts Improve Juvenile Justice Outcomes in Pennsylvania
- Jan 5, 2011, Amy Ruff, Lourdes Rosado, George Mosee and Michael Pennington
- The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee (JJDPC) of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which advises the Commission on the distribution of federal and state…
- Louisiana's Top Juvenile Justice Official Sees Improvement at Youth Center
- Jan 5, 2011, Louisiana Models for Change
- Mary Livers, Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ), along with the director of Monroe's Swanson Center for Youth say conditions at the center continue to improve, despite…
- New Laws in Illinois Reform Juvenile Justice System and Provide Added Protections for Juveniles
- Jan 4, 2011, Illinois Models for Change
- Reforms aimed at improving the juvenile parole system and encouraging early delivery of mental health treatment and other services took effect in Illinois with the start of the new year, and the…
- Voice of Leadership Award Presented to Illinois Models for Change Leader
- Dec 15, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Pictured from left to right: Pamela F. Rodriguez, president of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC); George W. Timberlake, Chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission; and Colleen…
- Jason Witt-Disproportionate Minority Contact Action Network Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, DMC Action Network
- Jason Witt
Deputy Director Rock County, Wisconsin Human Services Department “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” So says Jason Witt, a true believer in…
- Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio-Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Honorable Linda Tucci Teodosio Judge Summit County, Ohio Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio is a compassionate leader, who understands the need for accountability but recognizes that the…
- Robert W. Mason-Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network
- Robert W. Mason Director of Juvenile Court for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office, Florida Children in Florida once went before the court in shackles. Thanks to the efforts of Rob…
- Susan N. Dreyfus-Washington Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, Washington State Models for Change
- Susan N. Dreyfus Secretary, State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services When she wasappointed Secretary of Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services, Susan…
- Roy L. Juncker, Jr.-Louisiana Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Roy L. Juncker, Jr. Director, Jefferson Parish. Louisiana Department of Juvenile Services Roy Juncker, once the Chief of Police in the small Jefferson Parish city of Westwego, is now one of…
- Rick Velasquez-Illinois Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Rick Velasquez Director Youth Outreach Services Rick Velasquez has lived in the Chicago area his entire life. Velasquez became involved with Youth Outreach Services (YOS) in the early 1970s as a…
- Patricia Torbet-Pennsylvania Champion for Change
- Dec 1, 2010, Pennsylvania Champion for Change
- Patricia Torbet Senior Research Associate National Center for Juvenile Justice When a small group of juvenile justice leaders met to dream up Models for Change, Pat Torbet was at the table. When…
- 2010 Champions for Change
- Dec 1, 2010
- The Champions for Change recognizes one Models for Change leader or partner from each of the four core Models for Change states (Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Washington) and each of the Models…
- Jetson Center for Youth Shows Off Its Reformed Ways
- Nov 10, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Several years ago, a common sight at Jetson Center for Youth was shackled and handcuffed teenagers clad in orange jumpsuits shuffling across the prison campus under the watchful eyes of uniformed…
- Expansion of Balanced and Restorative Justice Welcomed by Peoria, Illinois
- Nov 8, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- PEORIA, IL -- After establishing a successful track record of resolving behavior problems in Peoria schools through the use of Balanced and Restorative Justice principles, a similar approach is being…
- Building Awareness, Preparing for Change
- Nov 5, 2010, Daveda Russell
- Washington’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) is committed to addressing disproportionate minority contact across Washington state. The Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) team,…
- Damon Baldone: Models for Change Profile of the Month
- Nov 3, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Louisiana District 53 State Representative Damon Baldone from Houma, Louisiana
As a Louisiana state representative, Baldone has garnered a reputation for handling tough issues related to crime…
- Illinois Makes Progress But Has Not Achieved the Juvenile Justice System Envisioned by Jane Addams
- Oct 7, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- By the time the keynote speaker at the annual Jane Addams Symposium had finished explaining what is right and wrong about the juvenile justice system in America and in Illinois in particular, the…
- Patricia Torbet-Models for Change Profile of the Month
- Oct 7, 2010
- Now that she is retired, Pat and her husband are looking forward to traveling and checking things off her bucket list!
In her role as a Senior Researcher at the National Center for Juvenile…
- What “Sustainability” Means for Juvenile Justice Reform
- Sep 23, 2010, Jason Szanyi, Skadden Fellow, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- What “Sustainability” Means for Juvenile Justice Reform Innovative Strategies to Make Reforms Last in the DMC Action Network When the MacArthur Foundation launched the Disproportionate…
- Text of Julie L. Biehl's Keynote Address at the Jane Addams Hull House Association
- Sep 16, 2010, Julie L. Biehl
- Jane Addams Hull House Association Jane Addams Symposium Chicago, Illinois
September 16, 2010
Keynote Address by Julie L. Biehl Director, Children & Family Justice Center Northwestern…
- Illinois Juvenile Justice Reform Leader to Address International Conference
- Sep 15, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Elizabeth Clarke, founder and president of the Juvenile Justice Initiative (JJI) in Illinois, has accepted an invitation to address an international audience of juvenile justice reform advocates.
In…
- Calcasieu Sets Standards for Juvenile Justice
- Aug 29, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Calcasieu Parish has been asked to help develop standards for juvenile justice detention centers around the state.
House Bill 1477, enacted this summer, outlines the development of “best…
- NCLR Highlights Juvenile Justice at its 2010 Annual Conference
- Aug 11, 2010, The National Council of La Raza
- The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—presented two juvenile justice workshops and held a…
- Juvenile Detention Reform Helping to Ease Overcrowding
- Aug 6, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- In Shreveport, Louisiana, Caddo Juvenile Detention Center's small cell blocks are reserved mostly for teens charged with armed robbery, sex crimes and other violent felony offenses. Despite a…
- Reforming Juvenile Justice in Pennsylvania
- Aug 3, 2010, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- An innovative new approach to juvenile justice reform in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is helping to improve community safety while reducing the number of young people in secure detention and…
- Journalists Briefed on Assessment of Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice Policies
- Jul 29, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Journalists were briefed Thursday (July 29) on an independent assessment of Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) policies, practices and programs for youth with mental health and substance…
- Latino Leaders Engaged
- Jun 29, 2010, Washington State Models for Change
- Latino leaders in Benton and Franklin counties are aligning and strategizing for change. As a follow up to their initial meeting in late May, local Latino leaders have agreed to continue meeting to…
- Fast Forward Call Center Funded
- Jun 29, 2010, Washington State Models for Change
- Benton and Franklin counties received fantastic news in support of their truancy efforts. The Eastern Washington Models for Change site recently learned that United Way has awarded over 65% of the…
- Law Enforcement-Based Diversion: Helping Youth at a Critical Stage
- Jun 28, 2010, Kathy Skowyra, Associate Director, Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Young people in the juvenile justice system are experiencing mental health disorders at a rate that is three times that of youth who are not in the system. Studies have shown that the majority of…
- Juvenile Detention Standards Bill Hits Governor's Desk
- Jun 18, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- A major, long-awaited step in reform of Louisiana's juvenile justice system is now an imminent reality.
The Senate voted unanimously in late June to pass Rep. Damon Baldone's House Bill 1477, which…
- Semi-Annual Juvenile Probation Manager Conference
- May 27, 2010, Washington State Models for Change
- In order to create a body of support for probation managers from across the state, court officials in Washington State hold a semi-annual Juvenile Probation Manager Conference. The goal of the…
- National Juvenile Justice Network to present Jefferson Parish's Children and Youth Planning Board with Award for Leadership in Juvenile Justice Reform
- May 20, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- The National Juvenile Justice Network will present the Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board with its Award for Leadership in Juvenile Justice Reform. This is the inaugural year for the…
- Bryan Stevenson on Juveniles Sentenced to Life Without Parole
- May 17, 2010, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 17, 2010, that juveniles may not be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for a non-homicide. Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of…
- Our Kids: Our Business. A Unique Call to Action in Spokane County
- Apr 27, 2010, Washington State Models for Change
- The symbol of Our Kids: Our Business is the pinwheel. To recognize this event, every April thousands of pinwheels are planted around the community and signs are posted as a reminder of the importance…
- Spokane County Juvenile Court and West Valley School District Truancy Collaboration
- Apr 27, 2010, Washington State Models for Change
- When students are not in school they cannot learn. Their futures are extremely limited. This is illustrated by the fact that 60% of the inmates in our jail system are dropouts. Juvenile Court placed…
- Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services Director Roy Juncker Jr. Shines Light on a Dark Subject
- Apr 19, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) Director Roy L. Juncker Jr. received the Light of Hope Award for Outstanding Community Professional by the Court Appointed Special Advocates…
- The 30th Annual Louisiana Governor’s Conference on Juvenile Justice Showcases the Best and Brightest of the Juvenile Justice Reform Movement
- Mar 29, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- The 30th Annual Louisiana Governor’s Conference on Juvenile Justice, held earlier this month in New Orleans, Louisiana, proved to be a defining moment in the state’s juvenile justice…
- Helping Prisoners Can Cut Recidivism
- Mar 19, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change (Courtesy of Dane Bolin, Director of Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Justice Services)
- Letter to the Editor
For the Lake Charles American Press
March 18, 2010
RE: Editorial – Helping prisoners can cut recidivism
In a recent editorial, some statistics were presented…
- Acadia Youth Council Hears Advice
- Mar 19, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change (Howell Dennis)
- Acadia Youth Council hears advice
By Howell Dennis
NEWS EDITOR, The Crowley Post Signal
Members of the Acadia Youth Council gathered at the Sheriff’s Department Thursday afternoon…
- Behavior Strategists Help Students in Tough Times
- Mar 15, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Karina Donica)
- From Alexandria, Louisiana newspaper The Town Talk:
Diahn Fleury still remembers her days teaching a group of emotionally disturbed children 12 years ago at North Bayou Elementary School and…
- National Symposium Highlights Juvenile Indigent Defense
- Mar 9, 2010, Rey Banks, National Juvenile Defender Center
- The juvenile defense agenda was squarely and resolutely placed on the indigent defense landscape at the 2010 National Symposium on Indigent Defense hosted by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the…
- New Data on Sanctions and Services Supports the Use of Non-Institutional Alternatives
- Mar 9, 2010, LaWanda Johnson
- Does placing youth who commit offenses in expensive, out-of-home placements improve their chances of not reoffending? New preliminary data from the Pathways to Desistance study reported by the…
- Illinois Models for Change Leader Honored as Faculty Member of the Year at Loyola University Chicago
- Mar 1, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Diane Geraghty, a leader of the Illinois Models for Change, has been recognized as the 2009 Faculty Member of the Year at Loyola University Chicago.
Geraghty is founder and director of the Loyola…
- Illinois Governor Taps Models for Change Leaders to Help Shape Juvenile Justice Policy
- Feb 24, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently reinvigorated the state’s Juvenile Justice Commission (IJJC) by naming 16 new members to the 25-member advisory group. Several of the new commission members…
- New Chair of Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Talks About Future of Reform in Illinois
- Feb 24, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Retired Judge George W. Timberlake, who is a member of the Illinois Models for Change Coordinating Council, recently was named Chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission (IJJC).
Timberlake…
- Chicago Public Radio Tells the Story of Life "Inside and Out" of the Juvenile Justice System
- Feb 3, 2010, Illinois Models for Change
- Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ-FM has begun a series of reports examining how young people get caught up in the juvenile justice system, their life inside juvenile prisons and what happens to them…
- Champions for Change Award Winners: Video Clips from the 4th Annual Models for Change Working Conference
- Feb 2, 2010, David Kindler
- Here are video clips of the 2009 Champions for Change Award winners:
Patricia Koch,
Keith Snyder,
Annie Lee,
Ben Roe.
- Mental Health Court Keeps Children out of Jail
- Feb 2, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Loresha Wilson)
- Taken from a report in the Shreveport Louisiana newspaper, The Shreveport Times:
Wearing shorts and a T-shirt, the teenager sat on the sofa in his home in Shreveport's Caddo Heights neighborhood…
- Models for Change Forum Focuses on Aftercare for Juveniles
- Jan 28, 2010, Pennsylvania Models for Change
- The fifth annual Aftercare Forum training was held December 3rd and 4th at the Days Inn at State College, PA. The forum, which was focused on highlighting the ongoing work of the Models for Change…
- Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Leads Way With Children and Youth Planning Board
- Jan 22, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- In October 2006, after being selected as one of the first MacArthur Foundation Louisiana grant sites, the Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board formed working committees designed to meet…
- Rapides Parish - Structured Decision Making Tools for Better Alternatives
- Jan 22, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Judge Patricia Koch and other judges of the 9th Judicial District Court are active partners in communitywide reform made possible with the financial support of the MacArthur Foundation's Models for…
- Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice - Testimony of Robert Schwartz, Executive Director, Juvenile Law Center
- Jan 21, 2010, Pennsylvania Models for Change
- Judge Cleland and Members of the Commission:
Thank you for inviting me to share Juvenile Law Center’s views on the Luzerne County juvenile court scandal and its implications for Pennsylvania…
- Juvenile Justice Reform Initiatives Taking Place Across Louisiana
- Jan 15, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine D. Kimball)
- I applaud the member judges of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges for their active support and ongoing efforts to improve and reform Louisiana’s juvenile justice…
- Conference Highlights Successes in Models for Change States
- Jan 8, 2010, LaWanda Johnson
- Hundreds of Models for Change representatives from sixteen states were on hand to highlight reform progress in their states and share experiences with peers during the 4th annual Models for Change…
- Beyond the Classroom: Patricia Evans Koch, 9th District Court Judge
- Jan 4, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
- Taken from Alexandria, Louisiana newspaper The Town Talk:
Beyond the Classroom: Patricia Evans Koch, 9th District Court judge
Patricia Evans Koch
Age: 49
Native of: Desoto…
- Rapides Parish Judge Nationally Honored
- Dec 13, 2009, Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of Elliot A. Hutchinson))
- Ninth Judicial District Judge Patricia Evans Koch will be honored as a 2009 Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform for her work locally and across the state.
Koch will be recognized by…
- Innovative Network Enacting Juvenile Indigent Defense Systemic Change, One State at a Time
- Dec 1, 2009, LaWanda Johnson
- In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court held in In re Gault, that all children have due process rights, most notably a constitutional right to be represented by counsel in delinquency court proceedings. …
- Re-Arrest Rate Lower for Illinois Juveniles Receiving Mental Health Treatment
- Nov 18, 2009, Juvenile Justice Initiative
- According to a project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, 66 percent of youth involved in the juvenile justice system had a diagnosable psychiatric condition.
The Mental Health…
- Juvenile Justice Reform Progress in Spokane County
- Nov 5, 2009, Washington State Models for Change
- Models for Change staff in Washington is excited about the progress Spokane County is making with alternative options in juvenile justice. Through collaborated efforts, Spokane County has expanded…
- Two Systems Come Together in Illinois with a Common Goal of Helping Juveniles in Trouble
- Oct 22, 2009, Illinois Models for Change
- DuPage County, Illinois’ second largest county, is well known as an economic and political powerhouse. More recently, the county also is earning a reputation as a leader in the field of…
- Lt. Gov. Tours High-Security Juvenile Detention Center
- Oct 15, 2009, Louisiana Models for Change
- Two of the six members of Louisiana's juvenile justice oversight panel took a tour Monday of a youth prison that has been hit with recent criticism that it's understaffed and overcrowded with…
- Teen: Jetson changed his life
- Oct 15, 2009, Louisiana Models for Change (courtesy of SANDY DAVIS)
- A 16-year-old, Brodrick E., said Wednesday he would never have pictured himself singing in a choir.
“I used to be thugging it out on the street,” he said.
But his street life ended…
- What is Working around Illinois
- Oct 14, 2009, Lisa Jacobs
- Models for Change is a national initiative funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to accelerate reform of juvenile justice systems across the country (www.modelsforchange.net).…
- Using Balanced & Restorative Justice Effectively
- Oct 14, 2009, Sally Wolf
- Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) is being used as a tool to resolve conflicts and hold youths accountable for their actions in a growing number of communities in Illinois. Word of their…
- Berks County Attorney Recognized for Innovative Leadership in Juvenile Justice
- Oct 9, 2009, Marie Roda
- Joseph A. Guillama, Esq. recently received the Violence Prevention Roundtable of Berks County Distinguished Leadership Award for his work with minority youth in the criminal justice system. Mr.…
- Council OKs New Therapeutic Facility
- Oct 2, 2009, Louisiana Models for Change
- The St. Landry Parish Council voted 12-1 Thursday, October 1, to allow the parish to become home to a new therapeutic juvenile center. The $20 million facility will be constructed near Opelousas,…
- Gang Forum Task Force Meeting Yields High Turn Out
- Oct 1, 2009, Washington Models for Change
- The Models for Change staff in Benton/Franklin County in Washington State hosted a forum to address the local gang problem and the impact that this activity has on the community. The forum served as…
- States Strategize to Keep Systemic Reform Efforts on Track
- Sep 1, 2009, LaWanda Johnson
- Community-based programs reduce the number of youth in secure placement, increase public safety and save taxpayers money. States can promote these alternative programs by changing their fiscal…
- Models for Change Leaders Honored for Contributions to Justice for Children
- Aug 20, 2009
- Diane Geraghty and Bernardine Dohrn Honored for Juvenile Justice Reform Contributions. Awards presented by Judge Patricia Macias of El Paso, TX, the 2008-2009 President of NCJFCJ.
Two leaders in…
- Reform Efforts Improving Mental Health Services and Coordination for Youth
- Aug 18, 2009, Joe Cocozza
- Solomon Moore’s article New York Times article illustrates the problems with using juvenile justice systems to meet the mental health needs of youth. Fortunately, there are growing efforts to…
- The New Jersey Supreme Court Agrees -Right to Counsel for a Juvenile Attaches Early
- Aug 10, 2009, Rey Cheatham Banks
- The New Jersey Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network (NJ JIDAN) team scored a major victory with the decision in In re P.M.P., in which the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the right to counsel…
- TeamChild’s Indigent Defense Project: Improving Legal Representation for Youth
- Jul 17, 2009, Washington Models for Change
- The defense attorney plays a key role impacting the outcome of a youth’s court experience. The better trained an attorney is in juvenile proceedings, the stronger an advocate he or she will be…
- Winston Peters Receives American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Award
- Jul 6, 2009
- Winston Peters
Winston A. Peters, a member of the Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network in California, is being honored by the American Bar Association (ABA) for his advocacy and commitment to…
- Project Seeks Early Identification of Mental Health Needs of Youth in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System
- Jul 2, 2009
- Our country’s juvenile justice system was designed to hold young people accountable for their behavior and provide individualized treatment, supervision, and rehabilitation to prevent future…
- Extraordinary Assessment Research Database supports juvenile justice reform and system improvements in Washington State
- Jul 2, 2009, Washington Models for Change
- To further reform and improve the system of juvenile offender assessment, tracking, and treatment in Washington state; Washington Models for Change state partner, the Administrative Office of the…
- Juvenile Justice Improvements Approved by Illinois General Assembly
- Jun 23, 2009, Illinois Models for Change
- The Illinois General Assembly has approved two pieces of legislation aimed at improving the state’s juvenile justice system. Both bills are in line with the Models for Change core principles…
- Visits to new Models for Change website increase threefold
- May 28, 2009
- Since its launch in March, the new modelsforchange.net website has exposed greater numbers of viewers to the work of the initiative. More people are visiting the site, spending more time on it,…
- Federal commitment offers welcomed support to local initiatives to promote racial and ethnic fairness
- May 28, 2009, LaWanda Johnson
- Acting Administrator of the OJJDP, Jeff Slowikowski, addresses DMC Action Network
As local Models for Change demonstration sites show how juvenile justice systems can be more just for all youth,…
- An early intervention success story
- May 26, 2009, 16th Judicial District
- Ms. Jennifer Smith* is a case manager for the school-based Prosecutor's Early Intervention Program (PEIP) in Louisiana's 16th Judicial District. The 16th JD has been working with the Models for…
- Reducing the incarceration of youth of color in Berks County
- May 13, 2009
- Reducing the incarceration of youth of color in Berks County through structured decision-making and community-based alternatives
Models for Change support has assisted Berks County’s juvenile…
- Illinois Gov. Quinn makes pilot Redeploy Illinois juvenile justice reform permanent program
- May 4, 2009, Jim Bray
- Redeploy Illinois, a pilot program to divert youths from incarceration in state facilities, will become a permanent state program and will have the ability to expand to counties throughout the…
- Functional Family Therapy services showing promising results in Pierce County, WA
- Mar 10, 2009, Models for Change Washington
- Research has shown that Functional Family Therapy (FFT) reduces felony crime. The Pierce County Juvenile Court, in partnership with the Pierce County Models for Change DMC Committee, has implemented…
- New Pennsylvania project strives to break cycle of youth crime
- Mar 10, 2009, Models for Change Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania has long been recognized as a progressive leader in juvenile justice reform, a reputation that led the John D. and Catharine T. MacArthur Foundation to select Pennsylvania as a flagship…
- New Illinois law: 17-year olds charged with misdemeanors stay in juvenile court
- Mar 6, 2009
- For decades in Illinois, 17-year-olds have not been considered old enough to vote, sign contracts or buy cigarettes, but they have been considered old enough to be sent to adult court. That is going…
- Catherine Kimball named Chief Justice of Louisiana Supreme Court
- Feb 2, 2009, Louisiana Models for Change
- Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball recently became the chief justice of the high court in Louisiana. Kimball became the first female justice of the state Supreme Court in 1992.
Justice…
- Juncker honored for juvenile justice reform work in Louisiana
- Jan 29, 2009, Models for Change Louisiana
- Increasing use of evidence-based treatment in Jefferson Parish
Roy Juncker, Director of the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services, was recognized Wednesday, January 28, 2009 by the…
- Illinois expands community-based program for juvenile offenders
- Jan 27, 2009, Juvenile Justice Initiative/Models for Change Illinois
- Based on efforts of a broad coalition including Models for Change grantees and partners, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to expand a state program that supports community-based…
- Third Models for Change working conference gathers forces and champions juvenile justice reform
- Jan 1, 2009
- The Third Annual Models for Change Working Conference, in December 2008, provided a unique opportunity for representatives from all areas of the initiative to come together and share knowledge, tools…
- Racial, ethnic disparities addressed in Berks County, PA
- Dec 8, 2008, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Significant and imaginative work addressing racial and ethnic disparities at the local level
Models for Change funding, coordination and expert assistance have enabled a coalition of juvenile…
- Champions for Change
- Dec 8, 2008, Models for Change
- James Anderson, PA
Elizabeth Clarke, IL
Paul Frick, LA
Jacqueline van Wormer, WA
Four inaugural award recipients honored at Models for Change annual meeting
Models for…
- 2008 Update: Gathering Force
- Dec 8, 2008, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Models for Change states and action networks are contributing to the gathering forces of significant juvenile justice reforms based in shared values, growing knowledge of what works, and a deep well…
- New detention screening method in Rapides Parish, LA
- Dec 1, 2008, DMC Action Network eNews
- In early 2008, representatives from Rapides Parish (Alexandria, LA) Juvenile Court, the Assistant District Attorney, Indigent Defense Counsel, all law enforcement agencies, and juvenile probation…
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